The Portuguese president calls for early elections
On Thursday, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced the dissolution of Parliament and called for legislative elections on March 10.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa thanked Antonio Costa for his “willingness” to continue leading the government until his successor takes office.
France Press agency
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced, on Thursday evening, the dissolution of Parliament and the call for early legislative elections on March 10, 2024. This came after the resignation of Prime Minister António Costa, who is involved in a corruption scandal.
The conservative head of state announced during a televised speech: “I have chosen to dissolve the Council of the Republic and call for elections on March 10.”
He thanked President Antonio Costa for his “willingness” to continue leading the government until his successor takes office. The conservative president spoke after listening a few hours ago to members of the Council of State, an advisory body, about the political situation in the country.
Political crisis
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa chose to call elections, in response to the request of the main opposition parties of the right and left, which he received on Wednesday, in order to overcome the political crisis caused by the sudden resignation of Antonio Costa.
He did not accept the proposal of the Socialists, who preferred a solution of continuity, with the appointment of a new prime minister who would rule with the support of the majority they enjoyed in Parliament. The president explained that this result would not be ideal because the prime minister “will not obtain legitimacy through the popular vote.”
The Portuguese Prime Minister, one of the rare socialists at the head of a European government, was subjected on Tuesday to an investigation related in particular to suspicions of “corruption” and “influence peddling” in the allocation of concessions for the extraction and exploitation of lithium. Green hydrogen production.
On suspicion of interfering to “open proceedings” in the context of this case, Antonio Costa will be subjected to an independent investigation, according to the prosecution.
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